Mission Rajasthan 2006 - Day 06
Bikaner to Pushkar
Pushkar to Ajmer
Ajmer to Delhi
This was not supposed to be our final day. Initial plan was to go to Ajmer and then take the night train or the night bus to Delhi. We left Bikaner after a quickie (that is breakfast, ok!) towards Ajmer. Soon, the sands were left behind, greenery taking its wings over the land and as we neared the holy city of Pushkar, the old mighty Aravali range appeared out of the oblivion. Climbing and falling roads cutting across the hills, we reached Pushkar just before lunch at 12. There was nothing much here except for a Brahma temple and a lake. Of course, we saw a glimpse of the stadium where the Huge Camel Fair is held every year. I didn’t go inside: Simple reason – I have grown sick of all the religious places over the years, especially those which are highly celebrated. When we started off ahead to Ajmer, the discussion got drifted towards whether to stay at Ajmer for the evening or to take the Shatabdi at 3.50 PM. Fortunately, everybody got ready to keep their tummys on hold till 3.30 and by the time, we would visit the famous Dargah Sharif at Ajmer and leave for Delhi that very day. We did that and I again sat outside the Dargah, taking custody of our teams’ shoes and socks. Only difference, however, was that a tout who was following us from half a kilometer away got really upset when he couldn’t get any business from us and so, he started blabbering. The part of his unfriendly speech, which I happened to hear, was “This is not a place for people like you. People like you should go to Pushkar, not come here. Pity on you that you don’t get to see the Dargah after coming to Ajmer” Probably, he felt that I was an orthodox and a strict Hindu who is not ready to visit a Muslim religious place but when I turned back and replied “I didn’t enter Pushkar temple also”, he must have been surprised because he left immediately. Now I say, People like him must understand what they are doing to their religion and their country. They are making god-fearing people like me, sick of commercialized religious places. Anyway, I was glad we were moving back towards Delhi that very evening and I would reach back home that day itself, especially when the Driver had already started showing his tantrums. Our journey almost came to an end when we boarded Shatabdi Express from Ajmer but when I came to know that few of my friends had never traveled in a Shatabdi, I knew it was another beginning. As promised to them, came the tea, then the juice followed by tea/coffee second round; and then came the much awaited Tomato Soup with the Butter and Drumsticks :) Meanwhile, we must have been glad enough because when I started playing guitar and singing in the train, everyone who passed gave us an appreciative look coupled with a smile. Those 120 minutes of music ended when my Diary of songs found its last page and the attendant was giving us stares indicating that he was waiting for us to finish the dinner he had kept for us. After all, who doesn’t want to finish his duties as soon as possible? And so, we reached Delhi. My headache forced me to take a Power Nap, only difference being that this nap was 40 minutes long. When I got back to my senses, I heard Delhi Cantonment and almost immediately, my friends and I agreed that they should get down here to reach their hostel faster. I, however, was bound for the New Delhi station so that I could go home for a rest and to spend quality time with my family after so many weeks. Only thing I could tell my Mom on reaching home was “India is Great – India is diverse – India is Huge, mom – India is truly Incredible!”
Pushkar to Ajmer
Ajmer to Delhi
This was not supposed to be our final day. Initial plan was to go to Ajmer and then take the night train or the night bus to Delhi. We left Bikaner after a quickie (that is breakfast, ok!) towards Ajmer. Soon, the sands were left behind, greenery taking its wings over the land and as we neared the holy city of Pushkar, the old mighty Aravali range appeared out of the oblivion. Climbing and falling roads cutting across the hills, we reached Pushkar just before lunch at 12. There was nothing much here except for a Brahma temple and a lake. Of course, we saw a glimpse of the stadium where the Huge Camel Fair is held every year. I didn’t go inside: Simple reason – I have grown sick of all the religious places over the years, especially those which are highly celebrated. When we started off ahead to Ajmer, the discussion got drifted towards whether to stay at Ajmer for the evening or to take the Shatabdi at 3.50 PM. Fortunately, everybody got ready to keep their tummys on hold till 3.30 and by the time, we would visit the famous Dargah Sharif at Ajmer and leave for Delhi that very day. We did that and I again sat outside the Dargah, taking custody of our teams’ shoes and socks. Only difference, however, was that a tout who was following us from half a kilometer away got really upset when he couldn’t get any business from us and so, he started blabbering. The part of his unfriendly speech, which I happened to hear, was “This is not a place for people like you. People like you should go to Pushkar, not come here. Pity on you that you don’t get to see the Dargah after coming to Ajmer” Probably, he felt that I was an orthodox and a strict Hindu who is not ready to visit a Muslim religious place but when I turned back and replied “I didn’t enter Pushkar temple also”, he must have been surprised because he left immediately. Now I say, People like him must understand what they are doing to their religion and their country. They are making god-fearing people like me, sick of commercialized religious places. Anyway, I was glad we were moving back towards Delhi that very evening and I would reach back home that day itself, especially when the Driver had already started showing his tantrums. Our journey almost came to an end when we boarded Shatabdi Express from Ajmer but when I came to know that few of my friends had never traveled in a Shatabdi, I knew it was another beginning. As promised to them, came the tea, then the juice followed by tea/coffee second round; and then came the much awaited Tomato Soup with the Butter and Drumsticks :) Meanwhile, we must have been glad enough because when I started playing guitar and singing in the train, everyone who passed gave us an appreciative look coupled with a smile. Those 120 minutes of music ended when my Diary of songs found its last page and the attendant was giving us stares indicating that he was waiting for us to finish the dinner he had kept for us. After all, who doesn’t want to finish his duties as soon as possible? And so, we reached Delhi. My headache forced me to take a Power Nap, only difference being that this nap was 40 minutes long. When I got back to my senses, I heard Delhi Cantonment and almost immediately, my friends and I agreed that they should get down here to reach their hostel faster. I, however, was bound for the New Delhi station so that I could go home for a rest and to spend quality time with my family after so many weeks. Only thing I could tell my Mom on reaching home was “India is Great – India is diverse – India is Huge, mom – India is truly Incredible!”
